MACC leads raid on allegedly illegal carbon filter factory at Sg Lembu (Updated)

BUKIT MERTAJAM: Several enforcement agencies led by the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) raided an allegedly illegal factory producing carbon filters this morning.
Dubbed Ops Carbon, officers from the MACC, Inland Revenue Board (IRB), Immigration Department and the Department of Environment (DOE) stormed the factory inside an oil palm estate near Kampung Sungai Lembu during the 10.15am operation.
Officers were tight lipped over the raid but an Immigration Department truck could be seen ferrying away some 15 foreign workers for further investigation.
It was also observed that the raiding team had removed several stacks of documents from the factory too.
MACC sources told theSun the operation was carried out following complaints and reports lodged by villagers staying near the factory.
As part of the investigations, theSun learned a separate MACC team later went to the Seberang Perai Municipal Council headquarters in Bandar Perda here.
The anti-graft team had seized documents related to the factory during the operation at the Council offices.
Council president Datuk Rozali Mahmud confirmed the MACC had visited the Council offices and stressed his municipality would extend its fullest cooperation.
“We have no problems with cooperating with the MACC, we will fully cooperate,” he said.
Meanwhile, Kampung Sungai Lembu village head Tan Sing Lee, 58, said the factory has been operating for more than 15 years and the fumes emitted was not good for their health and the environment.
Tan said villagers have been complaining to the local authorities for some time but no action was taken so far.
“The health of the villagers is the most important thing now, the factory must ceased its operations,” he added.